Method and apparatus for conveying articles



Dec. 2, 141.

W. C. PALMER ET AL.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING ARTICLES Filed Feb. 28, 1959 9Sheets-Sheet l m M Z 0 Qw M% S u H .m WCH kw MD 3 o m m QR NEDA MN wH/ NY B G cc. 2, 1941. w. c. PALMER ET AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING ARTICLES Filed Feb. 28, 1939 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 2, 1941. w,PALMER ET AL 2,264,768

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING ARTICLES Filed Feb. 28, 1939 9Sheets-Sheet 3 4. INVENTORS WILLIAM C. PALMER BY HAROLD H. MO

ATTORNEYS Dec, 2, 1941. w. c. PALMER ETAL METHOD AND APPARATUS FORCONVEYING ARTICLES Filed Feb. 28, 1939 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 2, 1941..w. c. PALMER ETAL- METHOD AND APPARATUSFOR CONVEYING ARTICLES Filed Feb.28, 1939 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 ENTORS M C. PALMER D H. MOHL INV WILLI Y HAROW ATTORNE .2,1941- w. c. PALMER Em 2, 4 768 METHOD AND APPARATUS FORCONVEYING ARTICLES FiledFeb. 28. 1939 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORSWILLIAMC. PALMER BY HAROLD H. MOHL EY c7 ATTORN "DRNEN' W033 TerenceSEARCH ROOM Dec. 2, 1941.

w. c. PALMER ETAL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING ARTICLES Filed Feb.28, 1939 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORS WILLIAM C. PALMER BY HARQLD H. MOHLM ATTORNEYS Dec. 2, 1941. w. c. PALMER ETAL 2,264,758

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING ARTICLES UI'OSS HGTBTBHCB "NH HUOMFiled Feb. 28, 1939 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 lNVENTORS WILLIAM C. PALMER BYHAROLD H. MOHL ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 2, 1941 METHOD AND APPARATUS FORCONVEYING ARTICLES William C. Palmer and Harold H. Mohl, Davenport,Iowa, assignon to Micro-Westco, Inc., Bcttendorf, Iowa, a corporation ofDelaware Application February 28, 1939, Serial No. 258,924

60 Claims.

This invention relates to conveyors, and more particularly to a conveyorsystem for advancing articles to a first mechanism which performs anoperation thereon and for forwarding the articles from the firstinstrumentality to a second instrumentality for performing a second orsubsequent operation thereon.

A particular application of the invention is in connection with theslicing and wrapping of baked loaves of bread. It is customary toconnect a wrapping machine in tandem to a slicing machine and advanceloaves in a continuous succession first through the slicing machine andthen to the wrapping machine. Numerous conveyor systems have beendevised to control the passage of the loaves or articles through theslicing machine and their entrance into the wrapping machine in propersequence. In the slicing machine the cutting elements or knives areoperated continuously and in order to produce more uniform and evenslices without waves and without crushing of the bread. it is preferableto slice at a relatively low rate of speed. Accordingly, it is desirableto advance the baked loaves to and through the cutters in a continuousabutting series and at a substantially uniform linear speed with aslittle interruption in the continuous feed as possible. Thus, the loavesshould move through the cutters in side by side contacting relation withone another without frequent stopping and starting of the column ofloaves and without variation of the linear rate of travel so that thecutting is continuous from one loaf into the next and while passingthrough each loaf with no stopping of any of the loaves while beingsliced.

However, wrapping machines are designed to receive loaves at uniformintervals and not in an abutting series. Hence, it is necessary toprovide means for separating the articles or loaves from one anotherafter they emerge from the slicing mechanism or instrumentality andadvance them separated loaves to the wrapping mechanism orinstrumentality in spaced relation with respect to one another and atuniform intervals.

According to some slicing machine-wrapping machine combinations, theslicing machine has an infeed conveyor consisting of a plurality ofspaced flights carried by endless side chains or the like and arrangedto feed successive loaves into the slicing mechanism atuniformintervals. An outfeed conveyor of similar construction is coordinated ortimed with the infeed conveyor and is provided with flights whichreceive the .loaves as they emerge from the slicing mechanism andadvance them to the wrapping mechanism. In such an arrangement theloaves travel for a portion of their path through the slicing mechanismor instrumentality in side by side abutting relationship with oneanother and the theory of operation is that for each article advancedinto the abutting series in the slicing machine by the infeed conveyor,a sliced article is released from the end of the abutting series ontothe outfeed conveyor. Baked loaves and similar articles are not ofuniform width or size. The length of the abutting series of loaves inthe slicing mechanism is thus subject to variation. Accordingly, therelease of a sliced article from the end of the abutting series is aptto occur either too soon or too late for proper positioning thereof onthe outfeed conveyor depending upon whether the remainder of thearticles in the abutting series are oversize or undersize.

Another object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a conveyorsystem having controls responsive to the discharge of loaves from anabutting series thereof in a slicing mechanism to regulate the movementof the conveyor or conveyors.

Another object is to provide a method and apparatus for conveyingarticles to a first operating instrumentality and for forwardingarticles from the first instrumentality to a second instrumentalitywherein the articles move through the first instrumentality in anabutting series and upon emergence therefrom are separated from oneanother and advanced at uniform spaced intervals to the secondinstrumentality. The invention seeks an arrangement wh'erein thearticles control the operation of the conveyors so that the infeedconveyor advancing articles to the first instrumentality is arrestedwhen the rate at which articles are fed through the firstinstrumentality gets ahead of the rate at which the articles arewithdrawn therefrom and advanced to the second instrumentality by theoutwrapping machine combination improvements in the means for drivingthe slicing machine infeed conveyor including the clutch structure forstopping and starting the infeed conveyor; the improvements in theslicing machine outfeed conveyor drive including the means for stoppingand starting the same; and improvements in the a means for controllingthe actuation of the conveyor and their clutch mechanisms in response tothe movement of articles from the slicing machine. Other objects andadvantages will become apparent from the following detailed descriptionsof suitable embodiments of the invention which are made in connectionwith th'e accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, with parts removed, of a slicingmachine-wrapping machine combination assembly of the character used inslicing and wrapping baked loaves of bread;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view, partly. in section and with partsremoved, of the slicing machine shown in Fig. .1 and enlarged withrespect thereto;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevatio'nal'detail,

partly in section and with parts removed, showing the variable speeddrive for the slicing machine of Fig. 1 and enlarged with respectthereto;

Fig.- 4 is an end elevational view with parts removed of the variablespeed drive shown in Fig. 3-

'Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view, with parts removed, takenlongitudinally through ,the slicing machine and showing the drives forthe conveyors and the controls therefor;

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail, with parts removed, showing the infeedconveyor drive clutch and taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5,being enlarged with respect thereto;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail, partly in section and with partsremoved, taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail, with parts removed,

taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional detail similar to Fig. 8 and withparts removed, showing the clutch shoes released by the actuating cam;

' Fig. 10 is a sectional detail, with parts removed,

taken substantially on the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 12

and enlarged with respect thereto;

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic fragmentary detail, partly in section and withparts removed, showing an article associated with the control levers andactuating the latch lever to release the trip lever Fig. 12 is afragmentary diagrammatic detail,-

onto the outfeed conveyor in proper timed relation therewith;

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view similar to Fig. 12 showing the positionsof the parts when an article is discharged from the end of the abutting7 showing the safety release Fig. 14 is a fragmentary detail in planshowing I one end of the control levers;

Fig. 15 is a sectional detail taken substantially on the line l5-l5 ofFig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a sectional detail, with parts removed,

for the tripper mechanism;

Fig. 1'7 is a diagrammatic view similar to Figs. 12 and 13 showing theresetting of the control levers and their related mechanism;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary detail, partly in section, showing the springsassociated with the control levers;

Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. 17 showing the springs duringresetting of the control levers; and

Fig. 20' is a diagrammatic longitudinal vertical. sectional view withparts removed showing an processed'in the machines are loaded upon aninfeed conveyor 0 which advances the articles to and through the firstinstrumentality or slicing machine A. As the articles are dischargedfrom the slicing machine they are received by a forwarding conveyor Dwhich transfers the arti-' cles from the first instrumentality to thesecond instrumentality or wrapping machine B. In this application of theinvention the forwarding conveyor D serves as both the outfeed conveyorfor the slicing machine or first instrumentality and the infeed conveyorof the second instrumentality or wrapping machine B. It is to beunderstood, however, that the forwarding conveyor 13 can be replaced byany desired number of conveyors operating in synchronous relation withone another and over which the articles pass in succession, inaccordance with well known practice.

Each article, upon being released from the end of the abutting series ofarticles emerging from the first operating instrumentality A, isdeposited on the receiving station of the conveyor D where it engages atripping or control mechanism E, comprising apair of cooperating membersand pivoted. levers which control the drive for both the infeed conveyorC and the forwarding conveyor D, the latter by means of a clutchstructure F, Fig. 12, and the formerby means of a friction clutch H,Fig. 6. In order to vary the speed of the infeed conveyor 0, a variablespeed control mechanism K is provided. s

The slicing instrumentalityA has a plurality of spaced, parallel,vertically reciprocableblades or cutters I, Fig, 5, carried inconfronting frames 2 and 3, Fig. 1, which are mounted for up anddownmovement between side frames 4. Sultable drive means, such asanelectric motor 5, is disposed between the side frames for driving theblade frames 2 and 3 by mechanism well known in the art, including belts6 and fly wheel .I.

The loading or infeed conveyor comprises a relatively short endlesscanvas belt 9 mounted inside an endless woven wire link belt III formovement'in parallel relation therewith. Adjacent the slicing mechanismthe belts 9 and H! are carried around a driven roller ll journalled inthe side frames 4. Preferably, a pressure roller I2 is adjustablymounted adjacent the driven l0 roller so as to engage the bottom laps ofthe belts 9 and I0 and hold the latter against the driven roller H. Theend of the canvas belt 9, remote from the slicing mechanism, is carriedover a rotatable roller I4 adjustably mounted in the side. frames so asto apply a suitable tension to the belt. As previously mentioned, thelink belt I9 is longer than the canvas belt 9 and is carried around aroller joumalled in the side frames beyond the roller l4 of the canvasbelt and remote from the slicing mechanism. The upper laps of theendless belts 9 and ID are supported by an apron l6 mounted between theside frames 4. Articles are guided at their ends while moving over theinfeed conveyor 0 by adjustable side guides H. v

At the end of the. infeed conveyor C adjacent the slicing mechanism thearticles are received and supported by a member l8, Fig. 5, arranged asa continuation of the upper lap of the wire belt l0 and supportedbetween the side frames 4.

Articles emerging from the knives or cutters I are received by aninclined Supporting member or plate I 9 which is mounted between theside frames and in substantial alignment with the support I 8.Preferably, a blade guide or comb is carried by one of the supports I 8or l9, in this case the support 19, and has finger portions which extendbetween the cutters I and serve to support the articles during slicing.

The forwarding conveyor D comprises spaced substantially parallel sidemembers 22 and 23 which are carried by driven shaft 24 journalled in theside frames 4 of the slicing instrumentality,

and a rod 25 supported by side frames 25 of the 45 wrappinginstrumentality B. Endless side members or chains 21 are mounted inspaced parallel relation with one another on opposite sides of theforwarding conveyor D. The upper laps or runs of the chains 21 passabove the side members 22 and 23 in moving from the slicing machine tothe wrapping machine while the lower laps or runs in moving from thewrapping machine to the slicing machine travel underneath the sidemembers. At the slicing machine end of the forwarding conveyor the sidechains 21 are trained over and driven' by sprockets 28 secured on drivenshaft 24 for rotation therewith. Sprockets 29 carry the side chains 21at the wrapping machine end of the forwarding conveyor. These sprocketsare freely rotatable on a shaft 39 supported by the side members 22 and23.

At uniform intervals, flights 3| are carried by the side chains 21 formovement over article supporting apron 32 disposed'between the sidemembers 22 and 23. As shown in Fig. 5, the driven shaft 24 and sprockets28 of the forwarding conveyor D are disposed underneath the supportingmember or plate 19 so that the flights 3 l in commencing their movementto the wrapping instrumentality over the upper laps or runs ofthe sidechains 21 pass closely adjacent discharge edge 33'of the supportingmember l9 to engage the lower rear side of an article-previouslyreleased from the upporting member l9, and push such article toward thewrapping machine over the apron 32.

apron 32 of the forwarding conveyor to engage the ends of articlesmoving thereover.

Any suitable type of wrapping machine may be employed in the combinationwhich forms the present invention, such for example as the wrappingmachine shown in the co-pending application of Arthur A. Kottman, SerialNo. 208,865 filed April 23, 1938. This machine has a verticallyreciprocable carrier or elevator 36 which receives article at uniformintervals from the discharge end of the forwarding conveyor D and raisessuch articles to the level of a folding and sealing channel 31. Duringthe movement of the articles through the wrapping machine or secondoperating instrumentality of the combination, they are wrapped and thenreleased to a cooling or discharge conveyor 38, which chills theoverlapped portions of the wrapping material to seal the same.

The wrapp ng machine is driven by an independent motor, not shown, andhas a shaft 39 which turns a predetermined number of degrees for eachwrapping cycle of the wrapping machine. For example, in the embodimentsillustrated, the shaft 39 is arranged to make one complete revolutionfor each article received and wrapped by the wrapping machine. A clutchsprocket 49 secured on a main drive shaft 42 supported between the sideframes 4 of the slicing machine is driven by a chain 43 trained over asprocket 44 secured on the wrapping machine shaft 39. Thus, the clutchsprocket and drive shaft 42 are arranged to make one revolution percycle of the wrapping instrumentality B.

At one side of the slicing machine the drive shaft 42 is journalled in asleeve 45 (Fig. 10) which in turn is journalled in a bearing member 4|secured in one of the side frames 4. On the inside of the side frame aconveyor drive or clutch sprocket 46 is keyed on the sleeve 45 forrotation therewith. This sprocket carries a chain 41 which drivestheforwarding conveyor D by means of a sprocket 48 secured on drivingshaft 24. A clutch dog 49 is keyed or otherwise secured onthe main driveshaft 42 in abutting relation with the inner end of the sleeve 45 andthe sprocket 46. A curved pawl 50 is pivoted intermediate its ends on abolt 5| secured in the clutch sprocket 46. By means of a spring 52, jaw53 of the pawl 50 is urged into engagement with a shoulder 54 of theclutch dog 49. In this manner the sprocket 46 is normally drivensynchronously with the main drive shaft 42 through interengagement ofthe shaft dog 49 and sprocket pawl 50. This combination constitutes aclutch which is adapted, when released, to effect a reengagement of theparts or members thereof only at a point or points in the revolution ofthe shaft spaced a definite number of degrees, such as once in eachrevolution. The degrees of revolution of the shaft 42 between successivepoints at which the clutch is adapted for reengagement are equal to therotation of theshaft necessary to actuate the conveyor D one articleforwarding movement, that is, the spacing of or distance revolutions ofthe shaft 42 while advancing the article from the slicing machine A tothe wrapping machine B (the number of degrees of angu- Adjustable sideguides 34 aremounted in spaced parallel relation above the -lar movementor rotation of the shaft depending on the length of the conveyor and thenumber of flights thereon) an article forwarding movement is referred toas the distance between successive flights of the conveyor since suchdistance is substantially the movement required after the receipt of anarticle before the conveyor is in position or condition to receive thenext article. Accordingly, the forwarding conveyor which is driven insynchronous timed relation with the operating cycle of the wrappinginstrumentality can be arrested by disengagement of the pawl and dog 48,but reengagement of these parts can only occur to effect a drivingengagement between the shaft 88 of the wrapping machine and theforwarding conveyor D when the flights 8| of the latter are insynchronous or timed relation with respect to the operating cycle of thewrapping machine.

The flywheel 1 of the slicer or first operating I instrumentality ismounted on a shaft 58 to which shaft 51 of the variable speed drive K isconnected by a flexible coupling 58. The shaft 51 is journalled in across member 58 supported between the side frames 4 and has securedthereon a spring pressed split pulley 68 which actuates a driven pulley14 by means of a flexible V-belt 8|. Idler pulleys 62 and 68 for thebelt 8 are mounted on an arm 64 pivoted at 85 on a bracket 68 dependingfrom the cross member 58. A screw rod 81 has threaded engagement with ablock 68 pivotally attached to the arm 84. The screw 61 is journalled inabracket 88 attached to one of the side frames and is held againstendwise movement by a collar 1| and the hub of a hand crank 18 whichabuts the journal. The hand crank is secured on the screw on the outsideof the side frame and rotation of the screw 81 moves the arm 84 towardor away from the shaft51. In this manner the tension in the belt 8|,trained over the idlers 82 and 88, may be varied tov spread the splitpulley 68 to change the effective diameter thereof. v

The driven pulley 14 is secured on a shaft 15 journalled in ahousing 16attached to one of the side frames 4. Within the housing 18 a worm 11 issecured on the shaft 15 and meshes'with a gear 18 secured on a shortshaft 18 also Journalled in the housing 16. Externally of the housing asprocket 88 is secured on the shaft 18 and actuates infeed or loadingconveyor driveshaft 8| by means of a chain or belt 82 which is'trainedover a sprocket 83 secured on the inner end of the shaft. This shaft isJournalled in bearings carried by inner and outer brackets 85 and 88respectively. The top of the inner bracket is secured to an inwardlyprojecting flange .81 of the frame 4 while the bottom is bolted at 88 tothe inside of the frame beneath the shaft 8 I. The outer bracket 86 isbolted at 88 to the outside of the frame on opposite sides of the shaft8|. A cylindrical drum or housing 88 is secured on the shaft 8| between.the brackets 85 and 88 and is disposed in a circular opening formed inthe side frame of the slicer. Thedrum 88 isopen at one end and receivesa sleevemember 8| which is loosely mounted on the shaft 8|. At the endof the sleeve 8| which abuts hub 82 of the housing is formed a radialarm 88 which has a pair of segmental friction shoes 84 and 85 pivotedthereto at 88 and 81 respectively. These shoesi are arrangedconcentrically about the shaft 8| for frictional engagement with theinwardly directed cylindrical friction surface 88 of the drum 88.

The shoes are forced against the surface 88 by a shoulder I82 which isengaged by an adjustablestud I88 secured in the end of the shoe 84opposite the pivot 88. Roller I85 mounted in the free end of the leverI88 is engaged by a cam surface I86 formed on a supplementary sleeve |81freely rotatable on the sleeve 8|. Upon rotation of the supplementarysleeve I81 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 8, surfaceI88 forces the roller I85 radially outward pivoting the lever I88 in aclockwise direction and spreading the shoes 84 and 85 into frictionalengagement with the surface 88 of the drum 88, thus establishing adriving connection between the shaft 8| .and the sleeve 8|.

On a reduced diameter portion of the supplementary sleeve I81 is keyedthe hub of a circular disk I88 disposed in the open end of the drum orhousing 88 and serving as a closure for the latter. 0n the inside of thedisk I88 are a plurality of friction shoes I88, each of which is pivotedat one end on an axially disposed shoulder bolt 8 secured to the disk'I88. The shoes I88 are urged outwardly into frictional engagement withthe surface 88 of the drum 88 by means of helical compression springsIII, the ends of whichare received on bosses 2 formed on the frictionshoes I88 and bosses 8 formed on the hub of the circular disk I88. Aratchet gear 5 is secured on the outside of the disk I88 by the bolts 8and is arranged to be engaged by a detailing lever, which will later bedescribed, for the purpose of arresting rotation of the disk I88 andsupplementary sleeve 81.

The main infeed conveyor drive shaft 8| is arranged to be rotated in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13,17, and 20 by the motor 5 and variable speed driving mechanismKpreviously described. Thus the housing 88 is rotated in the directionindicated by the arrow in Fig. 8. The friction shoes I88, held inengagement with the surface 88 of the drum, tend to carry the disk I88and supplementary sleeve I81 in a counterclockwise direction as viewedin Figs. 7 and 8. Thus when the primary sleeve1 8| is stationary thereis a relative motion of the supplementary sleeve I81 with 'respectthereto which moves the cam surface I88 under the roller I actuating thearm I 88 to distend the clutch shoes 84 and 85 into frictionalengagement with the surface 88 of the housing or drum until the sleeve8| rotates synchronously with the drum 88 and shaft 8|. When a drivingconnection is thus established between the shaft 8| and sleeve 8| thedrum 88 and parts enclosed thereby rotate as a unit. Upon arresting therotation of the sleeve I81, the shoes 84 and 85 are released and slidingengagement occurs between the drum 88 and friction shoes I88, the latterbeing made of a suitable wear-resisting material such as brass or thelike which permits this sliding movement without excessive wear.

On the reduced diameter outer end of the sleeve -8| is keyed a sprocket8 which drives a chain 1 carried over a sprocket ||8 secured on drivingshaft 8 of the infeed conveyor. This shaft is journalled in the sideframes of the slicing instrumentality and has secured thereon forrotation therewith the driven roller II, previously mentioned. In thismanner the infeed or loading conveyor C is driven by the same motor 5which actuates the slicing mechanism, and there is no driving connectionbetween the infeed conveyor and the discharge or forwarding conveyor D.

In order to coordinate the conveyor system it is necessary that somemeans he provided to regulate the rate of feed of articles to andthrough the slicing machine A by the infeed or loading conveyor withrespect to the rate at which such articles are withdrawn or removedtherefrom by the forwarding or discharge conveyor D. Ac-

cordingto the present invention this coordination-is effected bystopping and starting the inshaft I24 journalled in the side members 22and 23 of the forwarding conveyor D adjacent the slicingmachine end ofthe latter while the trip levers I23 are secured on a shaft I which isalso journalled in the side members 22 and 23 in parallel relation withrespect to the shaft I24 and spaced toward the wrapping machine from thelatter. the trip lever shaft I25 and the trip levers I23 extend towardthe latch lever shaft I24, being disposed above the latter in crossedrelation with respect to the latch levers. A gap or space between thedischarge edge 33 of the support plate I9 of the slicing machine, andreceiving edge I26 of the forwarding conveyor apron 32 accommodates thelatch member and trip member. The latter has an inclined portion I28which slopes downwardly in the direction of the slicing machine and ispartially disposed beneath the edge 33 of the support plate I9 and anormally substantially horizontal portion I 29 disposed substantially inline with the plate I9.

The trip mechanism E is arranged to actuate the clutch controls only inresponse to an article which is completely moved or discharged from thesupport plate I9. The latch member I20 is normally urged upwardly by arelatively light spring member I30 which readily yields to a weight orload imposed on the latch member. One of the latch levers I22 carries abearing member I3I which engages a pad I32 carried underneath the tripmember I2I by one of the trip levers I23 to support the trip member inits normal position shown in Figs. 5 and 20. During the movement of anarticle or loaf L from the support plate I9 of the slicing machine ontothe receiving station of the discharge conveyor,

the article first engages and rests upon the trip member I2I which isnot depressed thereby, but sustains the weight of the article, beingheld up or supported by the pad I32 of the trip member which rests onthe bearing I3I of the latch member. As the loaf L continues to advanceoff the plate I9, leading edge I 33 thereof rides over the trip memberand onto the latch member to substantially the position shown in Fig.11. The article-engaging surface of the latch member is inclinedupwardly from the substantially horizontal portion I 29 of the tripmember and is substantially parallel to the inclined portion I28 of thetrip member. Accordingly, as the article L is pushed off the plate I9its leading edge I33 rides up the inclined surface of the latch mem- Thelatch levers I22 extend toward ber; relieving the trip member I2I of theweight of the article so that when the article is as far advanced as theposition shown in Fig. 11 it is supported by its front edge I33 whichrests on the latch member I20, and its rear edge I34 which rests on thesupport plate I9 adjacent the discharge edge 33 thereof. In thisposition the weight of the article overcomes the resistance of thespring member I30 and depresses the latch member to the position shownin Fig. 11 in which the bearing member I3I is withdrawn from beneath thepad I32 of the trip member I2I. Upon continued movement of the articleor loaf L it is released from the discharge edge 33 of the support plateI9 so that the rear or trailing edge I34 thereof drops onto the tripmember I2I to depress the latter as shown in Fig. 12. Because of thefact that the article is supported by the. latch member I20 anddischarge plate I9 of the slicing machine the trip levers I23 cannot beactuated until the article is completely discharged onto the receivingstation from the plate I9 of the first operating instrumentality or'slicing machine.

On an end of the trip lever shaft I 25 which extends beyond thesupporting member 22 of the forwarding conveyor is secured a relativelyshort lever I35 which is connected by an adjustable length link I36 toone arm of a latch I37 pivoted at I38 on the outside of the slicingmachine frame. A multiple or triple armed control member I40 is securedfor pivotal movement outside the slicing machine frame on a stub shaftI4I journalled in an elongated bos I42 secured in the frame of theslicing machine near the bearing member M for the sleeve 45 and shaft42. The tendency of the control member I40 is to rotate or pivot aboutthe shaft I 4| in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5. Inthe construction shown, this tendency is effected by gravity, but aspring (not shown) could also be used. Upstanding arm I43 of the controlmember I40 is normally engaged by shoulder I 44 of the latch I31- toprevent the gravity induced rotation of the control member I40.

An adjustable length link I45 connects the upper end of the arm I43 toarm I46 of a bell crank lever pivoted at I47 to the side frame of theslicing machine adjacent the friction clutch H. The other arm of thisbell crank lever has an end or detent portion I48 which is movable toengage the teeth of the ratchet gear II5 to stop the same and arrest thedriving connection between the shaft BI and the infeed conveyor C in themanner previously described. The adjustment of the links I36 and M5 issuch that when the trip member I2I is in its normal position theshoulder I44 of the latch I3! is in engagement with the arm I43 of thecontrol member I 50, and the detent end I48 of the bell crank lever isheld out of engagement with the ratchet gear H5, thus maintaining thedriving connection for the infeed or loading conveyor through thefriction clutch H. t

Upon movement of a loaf or articl L wholly off the discharge plate. I9so that the trip lever I2I is depressed thereby, (as shown in Fig. 13)the link I36 is drawn to the left pivoting the latch I31 in acounterclockwise direction to Withdraw the shoulder I44 thereof from thearm I43 of the control member I40. The latter then rotates by gravity ina counterclockwise direction, drawing the link I45 to the left andpivoting the bell crank lever in a clockwise direction so as to bringthe detent end I48 into engagement with the is deposited at thereceiving station on the trip-.

ping members and apron ofthe discharge conveyor, until engaged andforwarded by one of the flights 8 I However, as stated previously, it ispreferable that the movement of articles through the first or slicinginstrumentality be substantially continuous and uninterrupted. Thereason for arresting the infeed conveyor in the manner described aboveis to prevent the discharge of articles or loaves L onto the forwardingconveyor D faster than they can be individually engaged and advanced bythe flights 3|. When the speed of the infeed conveyor C is adjusted,with respect to the speed of the forwarding conveyor D, by means of thevariable speed mechanism K, so that an article is discharged from theend of the abutting series of articles in the slicing machine onto theforwarding conveyor in proper time to be engaged by one of th flights 8|thereof, it is unnecessary to arrest the infeed or loading conveyorsince the danger of depositing more than one article in advance of asingle flight is not present. To accomplish this result, we secure aprimary cam I50 on the end of the conveyor main drive shaft 42 inabutting relation with the end of the sleeve 45. This cam thus makes onerevolution for each revolution of the wrapping machine shaft 39 or foreach operating cycle of the wrapping machine. Also, when the forwardingconveyor D is operating, the cam I50 makes one revolution for eachmovement of the forwarding conveyor equal to the spacing of the flights3|, or, in other words, for each article forwarding movement of theconveyor, as previously defined.

A surface I5I on the cam I50 engages a roller I52 rotatably carried onthe end of arm I58 of the control member I to limit the rotativemovement of the control member, as shown in Fig. 12. Thereby the end I48of the bell crank lever is prevented from engagement with the ratchetwheel I I5 of the friction clutch H and for a brief period the drivingconnection to the infeed conveyor C is maintained even though an articleL has been deposited on the trip member I2I from the discharge plate I8of the slicing instrumentality. The surface I5I of the primary a cam I50is of such circumferential or arcuate length and is so synchronized withrespect to the flights of the forwarding conveyor that the roller I52 isengaged thereby during the movement of each flight in approaching thereceiving station of the forwarding conveyor, and remains in contacttherewith until the approaching flight has moved beyond the position atwhich it would stop upon arresting the movement of the forwardingconveyor in the manner to be later described. For example, the leadingedge of the cam surface I5I maybe in underlying relation with respect tothe roller I52 when each flight is at line I54 and the cam remains incontact with the roller until the flight has moved to a position beyondthat indicated by line I55 (which line marks the position of the flightwhen the forwarding conveyor is arrested by disengagement of the dog 49by the pawl 50). Thus, if an article should be discharged from the plateI8 so as to depress the trip levers'after a flight has passed the lineI54, the primary cam I 50 will prevent stopping of the infeed or loadingconveyor. As shown in Fig. 10, the cam I50 is adjustable on the shaft 42and is held in position by means of a set screw I55 so that the positionof the line I54 can be advancedor retracted to vary the portion of theflight path during which the trip mechanism E is ineflective to arrestthe movement of the infeed or loading conveyor.

Upon the discharge of an articlei'rom the support I 8 of the slicingmachine onto the receiv-j ing station of forwarding conveyor D while oneof the flights 8| of the latter is between the lines I 54 and I 55, theraised surface I 5| of the cam I50 engages the roller I52 and continuesthe infeed conveyor C in operation and the flight 8| engages the rearside of the article supported by the control members I20 and I2I toforward such article away from the receiving station and over theconveyor apron 82 toward the wrapping or second operatinginstrumentality.

A secondary cam I5I is adjustably secured on a reduced diameter endportion of the sleeve 45 by means-of a set screw I58 and in abutting orsliding relation to the primary cam I50. Arouate cam surface I58 on thesecondary cam I5'I is of substantially the same radius as the camsurface I5I of the primary cam I and extends as a continuation of thelatter to support the roller I52 when the latter moves off the primarycam and the conveyors are in continuous synchronous operation. Thus thesecondary cam prevents movement of the control member I40 to actuate theclutch H and arrest the infeed conveyor while the flights 3| move over aportion of their path from about the line I55 to substantially the lineI80.

At the end of the cam surface I58 which last contacts the roller I52,the secondary cam I 51 is formed with a crest I5I of greater radius thanthe cam surfaces IN and I50. Upon movement of the crest I5I under theroller I52 the control member I40 is pivoted in a clockwise direction tosubstantially the position shown in Fig. 17 to reset the control membersI20 and I2I for the next article or loaf L. I

The cams I50 and I5! normally rotate in synchronism with one another andin side by side relation while bothconveyors remain in continuousoperation. Upon stopping.of the forwarding conveyor D, however, therotation of the sleeve 45 is arrested and the cam I 51 remainsmotionless while the cam I50 continues to rotate synchronously with theshaft 42. When the clutch dog 48 engages the pawl 50 to start theconveyor D, as will later appear, the secondary cam I" again takes upits synchronous rotation with the primary cam I50 in the same relativeposition as previously existed.

A laterally extending arm I82 is formed on the control member I40 and atits end pivotally supports a rod I58 which extendshipwardly therefromand has a sliding fit in an aperture I84 formed in the end of a leverI55 secured on the trip shaft I25.

A collar I55 (Figs. 18 and 19) adjustably secured on the rod I58supports a relatively stiff helical compression spring I61 and arelatively weak helical compression spring I58 of greater axial lengththan the spring I51. An annular bearing member or washer I is disposedabout the rod I53 and rides on the springs I51 and I68. This washerbears against the under side of the arm I65 about the aperture I64. Therelatively weak spring I58 is preferably disposed coneentrically withinthe relatively strong spring I61 and is of a rigidity or stiffnessmerely sumcient to support the weight of the trip member I2I and relatedparts when the trip member is released by the bearing member I3I of thelatch mechanism. The spring I68 is suifiicently weak so that thereleased trip member is very sensitive and will move downwardly upon theimposition of a very light load. The springs I51 and I68 are of suchdifference in length that the longer weak spring I58 may be depressed bythe arm I65 enough to permit release of the control member I40 by thelatch I31 before the top of the heavy spring I6! engages the bearingmember or washer I70. This movement of the arm I65 is indicated in Fig.18 wherein the full line position illustrates the normal position of theparts as in Figs. 5, 1'7, and 20, when the control members I and I2I areset for receiving an article from the discharge plate I9 of the slicingmachine, and the broken lines indicate the position of the arm I65 whenthe control members I20 and I2I have been depressed by an article orloaf L as shown in Figs. 12 and 13.

As the crest ISI of the secondary cam I51 pivots the control member I 40to the position shown in Fig. 17, the weak spring I68 is compressedsufficiently so that the strong spring I 81 engages the bearing washerI70 and raises the arm I65 (Fig. 19) to lift the trip member I2I aboveits normal position. The latch member I20 is then lifted by the leafspring I so as toposition the bearing member ISI thereof beneath the padI32 of the trip member. As the crest I5! moves beyond the roller I52 thecontrol member I is released and moves to its normal position, theshoulder I44 engaging the arm I43 and the bearing member I3I of thelatch member engaging the pad I32 of the trip member to support thelatter in its normal position.

The connection between the link I36 and the latch I3! is by means ofelongated slot "I (see Fig. 11) in the link and a bolt I72 secured inthe end of an upstanding arm of the latch and passing through theelongated slot I'II. This construction permits slight longitudinalmovement of the link I36 with respect to the latch arm during theresetting of the control members so that the end of the arm I43 can rideunder the shoulder I44 of the latch without straining or injuring themechanism.

The relatively strong spring IBI, while being suificient to elevate thetrip member I2I for resetting the same, is adapted to yield in the eventthe control mechanism becomes jammed or stuck, thus preventing injurythereto.

The crest IBI, while moving under the roller I52, prevents engagement ofthe ratchet gear I I5 by the detent I48 which would arrest the infeedconveyor C, and upon release of the roller I52 by the crest I6I thedetent I48 continues to be held disengaged from the ratchet gear I I5 bythe engagement of the shoulder I44 of the latch I31 with the arm I43 ofthe control member I40. Accordingly, during the movement of the flights3| from the position I54 of their path to the position where they clearthe trip or control members the latter are incapable of actuating theclutch H to arrest the infeed conveyor. After the flights have clearedthe trip members l the latter are set in their normal position so thatthe infeed conveyor continues in operation.

In the event that one of the flights 3I moves to the position shown inFig. 5, underneath the discharge plate I9 of the first instrumentalityand adjacent the discharge edge 33 thereof and no article has beendeposited on the latch and trip members I20 and I 2|, a roller I'I3carried by arm I14 secured on the end of the stub shaft I4I inside theslicing machine frame, engages surface I 75 of the pawl 50 to disengagethe jaw 53 of the pawl from the shoulder 54 of the clutch dog 49, thusarresting the movement of the forwar ing conveyor D. This conveyorremains motionless until the pawl I50 reengages the clutch dog 49, whichcan only occur when the shaft 42, driven in synchronism with theoperating cycle of the wrapping machine B, has made at least onecomplete revolution, or a multiple thereof, so that when the forwardingconveyor is picked up or started it does so in perfect synchronism withthe operating cycle of the wrapping machine or second operatinginstrumentality. The roller I13 continues to hold the pawl 50 out ofengagement with the clutch dog 49 (Fig. 5) until a loaf L is depositedon the control members I20 and I2I to depress the latter and release thecontrol member I40. If the trip member I2I should be depressed so thatthe control member I40 releases the pawl 50 when the shoulder, 54 of theclutch dog 49 has moved beyond the jaw 53 of the pawl 50, the forwardingconveyor D remains motionless until the dog engages the pawl on its nextrevolution.

The cam I 51 is adjusted on the sleeve 45 so that the stopping of theclutch sprocket 46 upon engagement of the pawl 50 by the roller I I3stops the cam short of, or before it reaches, the position in which thesurface I59 thereof can engage the roller I52 of the control member I40upon release of the control member by the trip mechanism. Accordingly,if an article is discharged from the support member I9 of the slicinginstrumentality while the forwarding conveyor D is stopped, the controlmember I40 is actuated to move the detent I48 into engagement with theratchet gear H5 and arrest the infeed or loading conveyor C so that theadvancement of articles into and through the slicing machine is arresteduntil the movement of the forward conveyor D is r sumed. In thisconnection it is to be noted that while the cam I51 moves with theclutch sprocket 45 of the forwarding conveyor and stops when the latterstops, the cam I50 rotates continuously with the main drive shaft 42which is driven synchronously with the wrapping machine B. Hence, eventhough the forwarding conveyor is arrested there is a short timeinterval during which an article deposited on the trip member I2I failsto arrest the infeed conveyor C. This time interval is determined by thelength of the cam surface I5I which engages the roller I52 totemporarily prevent movenent of the detent arm I48 of the bell crank levr from engaging the teeth of the ratchet gear H5. The length of the camsurface I5I is relatively short however, and, accordingly, the timeinterval, during which the infeed or loading conveyor C continues tooperate after the discharge of an article onto the forwarding conveyorfrom the slicing machine, is insufiicient to advance the next succeedingarticle off the discharge'plate I9, and the positioning of more than asingle loaf on the forwarding ponveycr to be.

Emmi bl U55 anoint] out-o advanced into the wrapping machine by a singleflight upon the resumption of movement by the forwarding conveyor D isavoided.

On the upper end of rod I63 is adjustably secured a collar H having afinger I'I'I engagesifie with the end. of an arm I78 secured on thelatch shaft I24. When the control member I40 is released by the cams I50and IE1 so as to draw the rod I 83 downwardly, the finger Ill holds thelatch member I 23 in its lowermost position shown in Figs. 12 and 13, soas to permit the movement thereover of one of the flights 3|.

Across the receiving end of the forwarding conveyor and above thecontrol members I20 and I2I is suspended a weighted roller I80journalled in the ends of the arms I3I pivoted at I82 to brackets I83secured to the side frames of the slicing machine A. Extensions 84 ofthe arms I8I engage the rear sides of the brackets I33 to limit thedownward pivotal movement of the arms I8I as shown in Fig. 5. The rollerI89 rests on the top of an article discharged from the support plate I9of the slicing machine so as to force the article or loaf downwardlyagainst the control members I28 and I2I and insure actuation of thelatter to operate the control mechanism. Additionally, the rollerprevents inadvertent movement of an article off the discharge plateuntil positively forced therefrom by the pressure of succeedingarticles.

In operating a set of instrumentalities, such as the slicing machine andwrapping machine combination shown, in association with the conveyorsystem of the present invention, articles or loaves L are placed on theinfeed conveyor C and th wrapping machine and slicing machine motorsstarted to set the apparatus in motion. The infeed conveyor advances thearticles between the side guides I'I into the slicing blades or cuttersI in side by side abutting relation to one another. The articles aresupported by the members I8 and I9 and are advanced over the latter in acontinuous succession. The cutting of the articles by the blades I iscontinuous from one article to the next without idling and without gapsoccurring between successive articles.

As the leading article is pushed off the discharge end 33 of the supportI9 the top thereof is engaged by the roller I80 which prevents thearticle from toppling over. Leading edge or corner I33 of the loaf ridesover the control member I2I but has no effect on the same since thelatter is held in its normal raised position by the bearing member I3Iof the latch member I29.

As the article continues over the control members the leading edge ridesonto the latch member I20 and depresses the same as shown in Fig. 11.The inclined surface of the latch member raises the leading edge of thearticle so that the central bottom portion of the article is elevatedabove the trip member I2I and the latter remains in its normal positionuntil the rear corner I34 of the loaf is released by the support l9.

Upon such release the article drops on the trip member, being weighteddown by the roller I30, 5.

face I5I of the primary cam I engages the roller I52 to limit themovement of the control member I40. The slight movement of the controlmember I40 to an intermediate position which does occur, while beinginsufficient to cause engagement of the teeth of the ratchet gear by thedetent I48 of the bell crank lever (Fig. 12), is sufiicient to withdrawthe roller II3 from the path of the pawl 50. As continued movement ofthe forwarding conveyor D causes one of the flights 3| to move the loafL ed the control members I20 and I2I onto the conveyor apron 32 andtoward the wrapping machine, the cam surface I59, by engagement with theroller I52, retains the control member in its intermediate position andprevents movement of the detent I48 which would arrest the infeedconveyor C. While the flight moves over the trip member I2I the latchmember I20 is held depressed by means of the rod I53 and finger I'IIuntil the flight is in position to hold the latch member depressed.

When the flight has cleared the latch member I20 the crest ISI of thesecondary cam engages the roller I52 and pivots the control member I40in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1'7 to reset the controlmechanism.

While one of the flights is advancing the first loaf or article onto theapron 32 and toward the wrapping machine or-second operatinginstrumentality, the infeed conveyor is forcing articles through theslicing instrumentality in a continuous abutting series and the nextsucceeding article is being moved over the discharge end 33 of thesupport member I9. If this second article is released from the dischargeend 33 while the next succeeding flight is moving over that portion ofits path between the lines I54 and I55,

, neither the loading conveyor C nor the forwarding conveyor D isarrested and the cycle is repeated. This continuous operation of bothconveyors continues until either the loading conveyor forces articlesthrough the slicing mechanism or first operating instrumentality fasteror slower than the cyclic operation of the second instrumentality. Sincethe forwarding conveyor D moves in synchronized timed relation with thecyclic operation of the wrapping instrumentality the articles or loavesL must be received from the slicing instrumentality in timed relationwith the cyclic operation of the wrapping machine. The present controlsystem is quite flexible, however, and it is not necessary that theloaves L be discharged from the support I9 in perfect timed synchronismwith the wrapping cycle of the second instrumentality in order to keepboth infeed and forwarding conveyors in continuous operation. It issufiicient, as will later appear, if the loaves be discharged onto thereceiving station not materially out of synchronization,

with the wrapping cycle.

In the event that the loading conveyor C is operating at a faster rateof speed than the forwarding conveyor D, an article or loaf L will bedeposited on the control mechanism E before one of the flights 3Ireaches that portion of its path between the lines I54 and I55.Accordingly, when the latch I3! releases the control member M0 thelatter moves to its second position, indicated in Fig. 13, and the bellcrank lever is rotated so that the detent I48 engages one of the teethof the ratchet gear I I5 to arrest the infeed conveyor C. As soon as theflight which is to forward the article enters that portion of its pathindicated by the line I54, the

Dperation of the loading conveyor C slower than the wrappinginstrumentality B, so that the rate at which articles are dischargedfrom the support member I9 is less than the cyclic period of thewrapping mechanism. causes one of the flights 3| of the forwardingconveyor to reach position I55 before an article has been deposited onthe controls or trippers E. In such case, the roller I13 engages thesurface N of the pawl 50 and releases the pawl from the dog 49 to arrestthe forwarding conveyor D with the flight 3| substantially in theposition indicated in Fig. 5.

The disengagement of the pawl 58 from the dog 49 stops the secondary camI5! short of the position in which the roller I52 will be engaged by thecam surface I59 upon release of the control member I by the latch I31,when the next article is discharged onto the trippers E from the slicingmechanism. In this manner should an article be discharged onto thetrippers shortly after the pawl is disengaged, the infeed or loadingconveyor C is arrested by the movement of the control member I40 fromits first or normal position to its second position and the movement ofthe detent I48 into engagement with the ratchet wheel. Thus noadditional movement of articles through the slicing instrumentalityoccurs until an article previously deposited on the trippers E has beencarried away. This feature is important since, as previously mentioned,the conveyor D is adapted to be picked up only when in perfectsynchronization with the operating cycle of the wrapping machine B.Hence, where the pawl 58 is released but a relatively short timeinterval before an article moves from the discharge edge 33 of thesupport I9 onto the trippers, both infeed conveyor C and forwardingconveyor D will re main idle until, on the next revolution of the shaft42, the primary cam I50 engages the roller I52 so as to move the controlmember I43 to its intermediate position and release the detent MS fromthe ratchet wheel II5, starting the infeed conveyor, and shoulder 54 ofthe clutch dog 49 engages the jaw 53 of the pawl 56 to start theforwarding conveyor.

If the operator notices that the loading or feeding conveyor C is beingstopped quite frequently by the friction clutch H while the forwardingconveyor D remains in substantially continuous operation, he maydecrease the rate of movement of the infeed conveyor C by means of thevariable speed control K, the hand crank 18 being turned to decrease theeffective diameter of the split pulley 68. If, on the other hand, theoperator notices that the forwarding conveyor D is being stopped quitefrequently by disengagement of the pawl 50 from the clutch dog 43, therate of speed of the infeed conveyor 0 may be increased by actuation ofthe handle 73 of the variable speed mechanism K to increase theeffective diameter of the split pulley 60. The optimum condition of perfmance is that in which the forwarding convmains in substantiallycontinuous oper is only stopped by the control mechanism under anabnormal condition, and the infeed or loading conveyor C is also nearlyconstant in 0peration but is momentarily stopped at infrequent intervalswhen the rate of discharge or articles from the slicing mechanismslightly exceeds the rate at which the articles are withdrawn therefromby the conveyor D.

, In Fig. 20 is illustrated a modification of the invention in which theendless belt infeed conveyor shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 5 is replaced by aflight infeed conveyor. This flight infeed conveyor may be constructedsimilarly to the flight orwarding or discharge conveyor D previouslydescribed and comprises a pair of spaced parallel endless belts orchains, one of which is indicated at 85. The ends of the side chains 535toward the slicing knives I, are carried over idling sprockets I mountedon rotatable shaft I35 carried between the side frames of the slicingmachine, and underneath driving sprockets I87 secured on driving shaftI88 journalled in the side frames 4 and which corresponds to the shaftII9 previously mentioned. The ends of the side belts I85 remote from theslicing knives I, are carried around idling sprockets, not shown,mounted similarly to the sprockets I86. Flights I90 extend between theside chains I85 and are pivoted thereto at I SI ahead of the planes oftheir article contacting surfaces. The flights ride over the surface ofan apron I93 which is inclined downwardly toward the slicing knives Iand supports articles being advanced into the slicing mechanism by theflights. Adjacent the end of the upper lap of the side chains I85 theflights I 80 drop by gravity through a transverse slot I94 formed acrossthe apron I93 and the article being advanced by the flight issubsequently pushed through the slicing mechanism by the succeedingarticles. The shaft I88 is driven from the sprocket N6 of the clutch Hby the chain II! which actuates the sprocket H8 secured on the shaftI88.

During normal operation of the conveyor system employing a flight infeedconveyor, and provided that the flights I90 of the infeed are properlycorrelated or set in phase with the flights 3| of the forwardingconveyor, the movement of a fresh unsliced article into the abuttingseries in the slicing instrumentality will effect the discharge of asliced article from the abutting series onto the control trippers E inproper timed relation with respect to the movement of the forwardingconveyor D to be engaged by one of the flights 3| of the latter andthence advanced to the wrapping instrumentality. One method ofaccomplishing this correlating or phasing of the loading and forwardingconveyors is to drive both conveyors from the same source of power. Aspreviously described, the forwarding conveyor is driven from the mainconveyor drive shaft 42, which is actuated by the chain 43 from thewrapping machine B. In the embodiment of our invention employing aflight infeed conveyor, we dispense with the variable speed controlmechanism K and drive the main infeed conveyor shaft 8| by means of achain I95 driven by a sprocket '96 secured on the continuously rotatingshaft 42. The chain I35 drives the sprocket 83, previously described,secured on the infeed conveyor shaft 8i.

In operating a conveyor system embodying both a flight infeed conveyorand a flight forwarding conveyor of the character shown in Fig. 20, theoperator after setting the several instrumentalities in motion depositsarticles to be processed in the pockets between successive flights I90on the infeed conveyor apron I 93 so that a series of :1!'-' 'a :.-e...s neieisute 2 i ARcH ROOM leading article is forced off the dischargeedge i 33 of the support member I9 onto the trippers E.

Since both the infeed and forwarding conveyors are driven from the sameshaft, the article is usually discharged from the support I9 just intime to be engaged or picked up by one of the flights 3| of theforwarding conveyor and moved over the conveyor apron 32 toward thewrapping machine. However, where a series of abnormally small articlesoccurs between the infeed conveyor slot I94 and the discharge edge 33 ofthe if support plate I9, the last article advanced into the series byone of the flights I90 may fail to move the first article in the seriesoff the support I9 onto the trippers E. In such case the roller I13engages the surface I15 of the pawl 50 and stops the forwarding conveyorD. The infeed or loading conveyor, however, continues in operation untilthe next flight thereof advances an article into the receiving end ofthe abutting series and moves such series a sufiicient distance through:1"

the slicing mechanism to completely discharge the leading article ontothe trippers E. This actuation of the trippers or controls E stops theinfeed conveyor unless the primary cam I50 is in. that portion of itspath in which the surface .1.

ISI thereof engages the roller I52. In this latter instance the infeedor loading conveyor C will continue in operation and the pawl 50 willalmost immediately thereafter be engaged by the clutch dog 49 to startthe forwarding conveyor D and i move the discharged article off thetrippers or controls E so that the latter will be clear to receive thenext article discharged from the abutting series in the slicinginstrumentality Where a succession of abnormally large or wide 4.

articles occurs in the abutting series between the slot I94 of theinfeed conveyor apron and the discharge edge 33 of the support memberI9, the leading article will be discharged before one of the flights 3Iof the forwarding conveyor D is in pick-up position. The depression ofthe trippers or controls E by such discharged article releases thecontrol member I which moves from its first position to its secondposition so as to bring the detent or pawl I48 into engagement with theratchet gear I I5 of the friction clutch H, arresting the loading orinfeed conveyor C. This movement of the control member I40 occurs, insuch case, since the cam I50 is adjusted to engage the roller I52 andprevent stopping of the infeed conveyor only when one of the flights 3Iof the forwarding conveyor is in pick-up position between the lines I54and I55. As soon as the flight of the forwarding conveyor which is toadvance the article on the trippers reaches the position indicated bythe line I54, the surface I5I of the primary cam I59 engages the rollerI52 to move the control member I40 to its intermediate position andwithdraw the detent I48 from the ratchet wheel of the clutch H, thusstarting To the infeed or loading conveyor. Accordingly, the feed of thearticles through the first operating instrumentality is resumedsubstantially simultaneously with the movement of one of the flights 3Ito advance the discharged article oh the tripi pers E onto the apron 32and toward the second or wrapping instrumentality over the forwardingconveyor.

As previously mentioned, bearing member I3I on one of the latch leversI22, by engagement with the pad I32 on one of the trip levers I23, locksthe trip member I2I in its normal position, as illustrated in Fig. 5.During normal operation and in the event that an article is notdeposited on the trippers at the receiving station of the forwardingconveyor D at the time one of the flights 3I is in pick-up position, theroller I13 on the control member I49 engages the pawl 50 so as todisconnect the forwarding conveyor drive and stop the forwardingconveyor with one of the flights 3| arrested substantially in theposition shown in Fig. 5. However, if, under such conditions, for somereason the forwarding conveyor drive should not be arrested, the flightwould continue past the pick-up position and engage the trip member I2I. Since the latter would be locked in its normal position, seriousinjury might result to the mechanism. In order to prevent damage of thischaracter, a safety device is provided which automatically releases thetrip member from the latch member when one of the flights passes beyondthe pick-up position. This safety device or attachment comprises a leverI91, Fig. 16, which is loosely pivoted on the drive shaft 24 of theforwarding conveyor D adjacent one side of the latter. The lever is heldagainst endwise movement on the shaft by collars I98 and is connected bya link I99 to a lever 200 secured against rotation on the latch shaftI24 by a key 20I. The safety lever I91 extends upwardly through acutaway portion 202, Fig. 2, in the inclined surface I28 of the tripmember I2I so that the end thereof is normally disposed in the path ofthe flights.

As one of the flights moves beyond its pick-up position, indicated bythe full lines of Fig. 16, it engages the end of the safety lever I91and depresses the lever to substantially the broken line positionindicated. This movement of the lever is transmitted to the lever 200 bythe link I99 so that the latch shaft I24 is given a slight angularmovement in a counterclockwise direction which lowers the latch memberand latch levers to substantially the position indicated by the brokenlines. Thus lowered, the latch levers release the trip levers so thatupon continued advancement of the flight 3I, the latter can ride overthe trip member I2I to depress the same without injury to the mechanism.The upper end of the safety lever I91 has a surface 203 which is ofsufilcient length to remain in engagement with the flight 3I long enoughso that the latch levers are held depressed until the flight hascommenced to depress the trip member. In this manner reengagement orrelocking of the trip member or levers by the latch member or levers isavoided until after the flight passes beyond the article receivingstation.

With a compensating or flight adjusting device of the charactercontemplated by the present invention, the control of the movement ofarticles to and through a first operating instrumentality and from thefirst instrumentality to a second instrumentality operating on thearticles at cyclic intervals, can be accurately accomplished. Thepresent invention thus provides a method and apparatus for controllingthe movement of articles being processed by successive operatinginstrumentalities so that the instrumentalities receive the articles inproper sequence and each instrumentality is able to perform itsfunctions with increased efiiciency and accuracy.

While for clearness the description and illustration of the inventionhas been made with reference to the handling of a series of single orindividual articles, the same principles are appli- 65516 to thehandling or processing of a series of pairs or groups of articles. Insuch case, each group or pair of articles in the series would beadvanced and otherwise handled in a manner corresponding to that of theindividual articles or loaves L.

Other modes of utilizing the princi les of the present invention may beresorted to. being made with respect to the particular details ofconstruction and procedure described, numerous modifications andsubstitutions of parts being contemplated, it being understood that. theembodiments shown in the drawings and set forth above are given forpurposes of explanation and illustration.

What we claim is:

1. In combination, a feed conveyor, drive means for said conveyorincluding a clutch structure for stopping and starting the conveyor, aconveyor having a station for receiving articles from the feed conveyorand a plurality of substantially equally spaced flights movable insuccession across the station to engage received articles and forwardthe same away from the station, drive means for the forwarding conveyorincluding a member making a definite angle of rotation for each movementof the forwarding conveyor corresponding to the spacing between theflights thereof, means responsive to the movement of an article onto thereceiving station for substantially immediately actuating the clutch tostop the feed conveyor, and means operative during a predeterminedportion of said angle of rotation of said member to prevent saidconveyor arresting actuation of the clutch.

2. In combination, a feed conveyor, drive means for said conveyorincluding a clutch structure for stopping and starting the conveyor, aconveyor having a station for receiving articles from the feed conveyorand a plurality of substantially equally spaced flights movable insuccession across the station to engage received articles and forwardthe same away from the station, drive means for the forwarding conveyorincluding a the members of which are engageable only at positionsangularly spaced equal to said flight space movement angle of rotationof the shaft. means normally disengaging the members of thedisengageable clutch after each said definite angle of rotation of saidshaft, control means responsive to the movement of an article onto thereceiving station to prevent disengagement of the disengageable clutchand to normally substantially immediately actuate the feed conveyorclutch to stop the feed conveyor, and means operative during apredetermined portion of each said definite angle of rotation of theshaft to prevent said conveyor stopping actuation of the feed conveyorclutch.

iii)

3. In combination, a feed conveyor, drive means for said conveyorincluding a clutch structure for stopping and starting the conveyor, aconveyor having a station for receiving articles from the feed conveyorand a plurality of substantially equally spaced flights movable insuccession across the station to engage received articles and forwardthe same away from the station, a driven shaft connected to theforwarding conveyor to drive the same and making a definite angle ofrotation for each movement of the forwarding conveyor corresponding tothe spacing between the flights thereof, a disengageable clutch inter--posed in said driving connection, the members of which are engageableonly at positions corresponding to said definite angle of rotation ofthe driven shaft, means responsive to the movement of an article ontothe receiving station for controlling the clutches independently of oneanother to actuate the feed conveyor clutch to stop the feed conveyorsubstantially immediately, and means synchronized with said shaft toprevent said conveyor stopping actuation of the infeed conveyor clutchfor a portion of said angle of rotation of the shaft.

4. In combination, a feed conveyor, drive means for said conveyorincluding a clutch structure for stopping and starting the conveyor, aconveyor having a station for receiving articles from the feed conveyorand a plurality of substantially equally spaced flights movable insuccession across the station to engage received articles and forwardthe same away from the station, a driven shaft connected to theforwarding conveyor to drive the same and making a definite angle ofrotation for each movement of the forwarding conveyor corresponding tothe spacing between the flights thereof, a disengageable clutchinterposed in said driving connection, the members of which areengageable only at positions corresponding to said definite angle ofrotation of the driven shaft, means normally disengaging thedisengageable clutch after each rotation of the driven shaft throughsaid definite angle of rotation, means responsive to the movement of anarticle onto the receiving station for normally independently actuatingthe feed conveyor clutch to stop the feed conveyor and for preventingdisengagement of the disengageable clutch, and

1 means synchronized with said shaft to prevent said conveyor stoppingactuation of the infeed conveyor clutch for a portion of said angle ofrotation of the shaft.

5. In combination, a feed conveyor, drive means for the feed conveyorincluding a clutch structure, a station for receiving articles from thefeed conveyor, a conveyor for individually forwarding articles from thestation, drive means for the forwarding conveyor, a control membermovable to substantially immediately disengage the feed conveyor clutchand arrest the feed conveyor, latch means normally preventing clutchdisen gaging movement of the control member, and means responsive to themovement of an article onto the receiving station to actuate the latchmeans and release the control member.

6. In combination, a feed conveyor, drive means for the feed conveyorincluding a clutch structure, a station for receiving articles from thefeed conveyor, a conveyor for ind vidually forwarding articles from thestation, drive means for the forwarding conveyor including a shaftmaking a definite angle of rotation for each article forwarded by theconveyor, a control member movable to substantially immediatelydisengage the feed conveyor clutch and arrest the feed conveyor, latchmeans normally preventing clutch disengaging mo ement of the controlmember, means responsive to the movement of an article onto thereceiving station to actuate the latch

